Whelan: Triesman was let down

18 May 2010 08:22

Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan fears that England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup has been irrevocably harmed by Lord Triesman's alleged comments about England's rivals.
Triesman stepped down as chairman of the Football Association and England's 2018 bid after he appeared to accuse the Spanish and Russian football federations of bribery.
Whelan said: "I think Lord Triesman has been let down very, very badly but the damage is done. I think it's done an enormous amount of damage.
"Now the FA have got to appoint a new chairman as quickly as possible and when we appoint a new chairman we have to be very, very careful who we appoint because it will be crucial if we're going to get the World Cup.
"I know ex-politicians come into the reckoning but you've got to think about getting someone familiar who is into football big style, someone like Rick Parry.
"He was at Liverpool and was a brilliant chief executive. He's gone out of the game because I don't think he got in with the two owners at Liverpool - but he's a perfect candidate to take it on and lead them (the FA) forward.
"I'd much rather someone who's been at the sharp end of football. (Manchester United's) David Gill is a brilliant chief executive too. That type of man is the perfect candidate to lead the FA.
"I still hope and believe it (the World Cup) will come to us because we are the natural choice. I wouldn't give up hope on that - we can go forward and get it with a quality FA chairman."